Article handling attachment for lift trucks



Jan. 1, 1957 CIRILLO 2,776,064

ARTICLE HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR LIFT TRUCKS Filed July 20,. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. LEE C/P/LLO BY ,Q/cA/Eg 14/4775, EDGEQTON 65 MFA/ENNY L. CIRILLO 2,776,064

ARTICLE HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR LIFT TRUCKS Jan. 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1953 INVENTOR. C/E/LLO BY P/CHEK M17725, zaaeerou kM-M/ENNY United States Patent ()fifice 2,776,064 ARTICLE HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR LIFT TRUCKS Lee Cirillo, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Towmotor Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 20, 1953, Serial No. 368,969 4 Claims. CL 214--653) and centering device which is designed to assure the rigid Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic ram operable from the drivers seat to effect the operation of the clamp.

of structure, efficient of operation, and susceptible of ready attachment or removal when the lift truck is used in other fields of endeavor.

Other objects and advantages, more or less ancillary to the foregoing, and the manner in which all the various objects are realized will appear in the following description, which, considered In connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a lift truck having the improved clamp mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a clamp of the form employed to support a cask or hogshead; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view thereof.

a load supporting carriage 14 mounted for reciprocative Since the truck and elevating tion thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The improved clamping mechanism comprises a rectangular frame F embodying uprights bolted at their 2,776,064 Fatented Jan. 1, 1957 ports but the columns which form a centering device for bodies of a cylindrical form protrude beyond the outer edges of the cross members 21. The center portion of rods being proportioned for sliding engagement within the tubes 23.

The base of the carriage 14 is constructed with a fork 37 shorter in length than forks of conventional form, but

3 fingers on said cross heads disposed in a common plane normal to said rods, and shoulders on the ends of said fingers configured for engagement with the top of a cask. 2. In combination with a lift truckembodyinga load elevating carriage having' a horizontally disposed fork thereon, mechanism for gripping and lifting a cask comprising a pair of spaced vertically disposed tubular columns on said carriage, constitutinga centering device for said cask, a hydraulic ram between said columns in par allel relation thereto, a cross head on saidram, vertical guideways on said carriage, slides on the cross head engaged with said guideways, fingers on said cross head disposed in parallel relation with the fork on the carriage, and depending lugs on the ends of the fingers having arcuate faces for telescopic engagement with the chime of a cask resting on the forks with the bilge thereof abutting said columns.

3. In combination. with a lift truck having a load elevating carriage, saidcarriage having a horizontally disposed fork thereon, mechanism for gripping and lifting a cask comprising a pair of spaced vertically disposed tubular columns on said carriage constituting a centering device for said cask, a hydraulic ram between. said columns in parallel relation thereto, a cross head on said ram, vertical guideways on said carriage, slides on said cross head engaged with said guideways, a plurality of spaced fingers on said cross. head at each side of said hydraulic ram, said spaced fingers being disposed in parallel relation with said fork on: the carriage for engagement with the chime of the cask at spaced areas at each side of said hydraulic ram to stabilize the cask and distribute the gripping load onthe cask through said' spaced areas.

4. In combination with a lift truck embodying a load elevating carriage having a horizontally disposed fork thereon, mechanism for gripping and lifting a cask comprising a pair of spaced vertically disposed tubular columns on said carriage constituting a centering device for said cask, a hydraulic ram between said columns in parallel relation thereto, a cross head on said ram, vertical guideways on said carriage, slides on the cross head engaged with said guideways, a series of fingers secured to said cross head and projecting laterally therefrom in horizontal relation with and parallel to the fork on the carriage, the outermost finger of said series being disposed immediately adjacent one of said tubular columns for stabilizing engagement with the chime of a cask resting on the forks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,439,233 Goldrick Dec. 19, 1922 1,807,913 Hollowood June 2, 1931' 2,399,360 Lacey Apr. 30, 1946 2,578,802 Heidrick et al. Dec. 18, 1951 2,593,820 Weiss Apr. 22, 1952 2,606,680 Herman- Aug. 12', 1952 2,620,937 Halloran Dec. 9, 1952 2,651,428 Dickson Sept. 8, 1953 2,655,278 Daniel's Oct. 13, 1953 2 ,693,289 Ulinski Nov. 2, 1954 2,714,969 Bartel et al'. Aug. 9', 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 144,506 Australia Dec. 28, 1951 1,026,967 France Feb. 11', 1953 

